Method of forming vehicle wheels



March 3o, 1937. E H- LE JEUNE j 2,075,294l

Filed March 26, 193 Sheets-Sheetl l lylarchw, 1937.

y F. H. E JEUNE METHOD .OF FORMING VEHICL WHEELS s sheets-sheet s Filed March 26, 1954 ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 30, 1937 UNlTED STABS r orties METHOD OF FORMING VEHICLE WHEELS Frank H. Le Jeune, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Kelsey-Hayes Wheel Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application March 26, 1934, Serial No. 717,512

5 Claims.

To this end the invention consists, first, in the method of forming both body and rim from aL single forged or cast blank; second, in the method of expanding and `fashioning-this blank to the desired formvand third, in various novel yfeatures as will be hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a cross section of the forged blank from which the wheel is to be formed;

Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the successive steps in the enlargement and fashoning of the blank to form the body and rim of a wheel of one construction;

Figs. '7 to 13 inclusive are views similar to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, showing the successive steps of forming a modified construction of wheel body and rim;

Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are sections through different modifications of the completed wheel.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 6, A is the blank which is forged from a billet of metal cut off to the proper length and which has a central web portion A' and an annular portion A2 of outwardly enlarged cross section. This blank is then punched to form a central aperture A3 therein, preferably of rectangular form, after which the heated blank is mounted on a spinning machine; This comprises a head B having a truncated conical end portion B and a substantially cylindrical peripheral portion B2 terminating in a rounding ange portion B3. The blank is clamped to this head by a member C having an end portion C' for engaging the square aperture A3. Both members B and C are then revolved and the enlarged annular portion A2 of the blank is spun outward over the portion B by the operation of a spinning roll D. This forces the bulging portion of the blank out beyond the portion B2 of the head B after which a spinning roll E is moved substantially parallel to the portion B2, spreading the metal thereover while the rounded end E of the roll forms a flange parallel to the portion B3. The blank thus formed is then pressed as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 to fashion the web portion thereof, after which it is rolled by (Cl. 251-159.01) l 'Ihe invention relates to the manufacture of the rollers F, G and H to fashion the rim portion. The latter roll is provided with a groove 1H which fashions the flange of the rim and a projecting rib H2 which forms the groove for engaging the locking rim. i

With the modified construction :illustrated in Figs. 7 to 13 the rst steps are substantially vthe same as just described. Thus aforged blank ,A4 having a central aperture punched therein, is

engaged with the spinning head I and clamping member J, and' is then rotated and subjected to the operation of a roll K which forces the annular portion of enlarged cross section outward `in conformity tothe truncated conical surfaceIf.

The web portion is then pressed as shown in'fFigtB by the operation of complementary dies K and L to form in the web of the blank an annular corrugation M with portions M and M2 extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of the blank. The web portion is then clamped between members N and N of a spinning head, said members being formed with the oppositely angling conical portions N2 and N3. A roll O is then engaged with the annular portion M3 of the blank, said roll having conical faces O and O2 at the same angle to each other as the portions N2 and N3 of the heads N and N. The roll O is then pressed inward to bifurcate the portion M3, forcing the furcations thereof outward in conformity to the faces N2 and N3. The blank is then transferred into engagement with complementary spinning heads P and P and is subjected successively to the operation of rolls Q and R which fashion the rim to the desired form. The blank is re-struck between dies S and S as shown in Fig. 13 after which it is heat treated to normalize the metal and is expanded cold to size and shape the same. The wheel may then bev finished according to the particular style desired, Fig. 14 showing portions T sheared and struck out from the web to form imitation spokes and Figs. 15 and 16 showing the construction which is completed by a member `U of thin pressed sheet metal givin-g the desired ornamental` appearance.

The essential steps of the process as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive are the forging of the blank, the spinning of the same in conformity to a fashioned head, and the refashioning to the desired form. In the process as illustrated in Figs. 7 to 13 the essential steps are the forging of the blank, spinning and pressing to form the web portion of the wheel, bifurcating the annular enlargement at the outer end of the web portion to .2e` Y forrn opposite portions of the rim and refashioning to desired form. .Y Y

What I claim as my invention is: Y

1. The method of forming vehicle Wheels com- 5 prising the forging of a blank having a central web portion and an annular portion of enlarged cross section, rolling the annular portion by a roller having its axis substantially radial with respect to the axisgof ther blank and relatively traveling around the latter to expand the diameter of the blank and further rolling to form a laterally extending rim.

2. In a process of forming vehicle Wheels, the Y steps of forging a blank witha central web portion and an annular peripheral'portion rof enlarged crosssection, mounting the blank upon a spinning head having a'truncated conical portion anda substantially cylindrical peripheral portion, Y

rolling the annular peripheral portionof said 20 blank to enlarge the diameter thereof "and to conform the same to the truncated conical portion'of -the'head, andV further .rolling the expanded annular portion of said blank to conform the same l to the cylindrical portion of said head.

VY 3. In a process of formingvehicle wheels, the

:steps of forging a blank with Vacentral web 'por` ,ti'onwan'dVV an annular peripheral portion of en-` larged cross section, mounting the blank upon a l spinning head having a truncated conicalportion,

. Yrol1ing vthe annular portion of said blank to en- `largerthe diameter thereof and to conform the same to said truncated conical portion of the spinning head, refa-Shioning the web portion ofV the blank, clamping'the web portion of the refashioned blank between spinning heads having oppositely extending truncated conical portions and with the annular peripheral portion of vthe Y blank in the space between said conical portions, and rolling the peripheral portion of the blank to bifurcate the same andto conform the furcations thereof to said truncated conical portions of the spinning head.

4. In a process of forming vehicle wheels, the

steps of forming the blankkwith a central web, portion andan annular peripheral yportion of eny larged cross section, clamping theY web portion of said blank between complementary members ofthe spinning head having oppositely angling truncated conical portions and with the enlarged peripheral portionl of the blank in the space between said conical portions,rolling the peripheral portion of the blank by aroller having' its axis substantially Y parallelwith respect kto the axis-of the blank andV relatively` traveling around the latter to bifurcate and conform the same to said truncated conical portions of the spinning head, and refashioningk the conical'furcations to form thewdesired cross section for the rim ofthe Wheel. 5. In a process for forming vehicle wheels.,` the steps of forging a blankhaving` a, central web portion and an annular peripheral portion of enlarged cross section, mounting said blank uponja spinning head, rolling the annular .peripheral f portion'of said blank to expand the `diameter and 

